Abdominal support



March 31, i931. P. R. SIGSBEE 1,793,502

ABDOMINAL SUPPORT FiledFb. a, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet. 1

6 I I l e, a a I BY MM 7W ATTO NEY:

3 sheets sheet, 2

INVENTOR Pa a1)? dzglsbee ATTORNEYS March 31, 1931. P; R. SIGSBEE ABDOMINAL SUPPORT Fi'led Feb. 6, 1929 Marbh 31 1931 p, 5 55 E 1,798,502

ABDOMINAL SUPPORT Filed Feb. 6, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet, s

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAUL R. SIGSIBEE, OF "WILIBRAHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGINOR TO SAMUEL I-I. CAMP,

DOING BUSINESS AS S. H. CAMP & COMPANY, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN ABDOMmAL SUPPORT Application filed February 6, 1929. Serial No. 337,957.

This invention relates to abdominal supports and has as an object the provision of a garment having a relatively rigid reinforcing member adapted to localize the pressure i; of the garment and having means for directly adjusting thefpressure of the reinforcing member preferably without transmitting the pull on the member through the garment. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds, particularly when reference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a back plan view of a garment It in extended position showing the invention applied to the same,

Figure 2 is an enlarged front plan view of a portion of the garment'shown in Figure 1', r Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the reinforcing member shown in Figure 1, part of the structure being broken away to more plearly bring out the details of construction, Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantiallyon the lines 4-4 of Fig- 'ure 3, and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 show ing a slightly modified form of construction. Referring then particularly to the drawr ings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout all views, there is illustrated in Figure 1 a belt or abdominal support formed of two sections 10 and 11, which are connected at the back by the lacing 12. At the front the sections are 36 connected by quick detachment means such as the loops 13 and hooks 14.

dissociated with the front of the belt or garment is a reinforcing member 15 adapted V 4 to accentuate the pressure of the garment over a predetermined area. This member is of a stiffer material than the body of the garment and may as illustrated, be formed as a pad of light sheet metal inclosed in a cloth cover 16. The reinforcing member isformed in sections and includes a center section 17 and the end or side sections 18 and 18hinged to the center section as at 19. Thus by prop erly moving the end sections relative to the p I centersection, the pressure of the pad may be evenly distributed over anextended area.

42 respectively are provided. As shown the strap 20 bridges the gap between the sections '10 and 11 and is provided at its opposite ends with buckles 25. The straps 40 and 41 are secured to and extend from the buckles 25 over the sections 10 and 11 respectively. The

strap 41 extends throu h a slot 22 in the hinge section 18' of the reinforcing member, and is stitched to the center section 17. The strap 40 is provided with hooks24; and the strap 42 is stitched to'the section 17 of the reinforcing T member, extends through a slot 22 in the section 18 of the reinforcing member and is provided at its free endwith loops 23-. Thus when the straps are tightened, pressurewill be applied not only to the center section 17 of the pad, but also to the hinged sections 18 and 18 thereof. The buckles 25 enable the straps to be adjusted to increase or decrease the pressure exerted by the reinforcing member.

As illustrated the reinforcing member may be loosely held in position in the front of the garment by tapes 26 stitched to the garment. These tapes, cooperate to form a pocket which loosely receives the reinforcing member whereby the latter is freely movable for adjustment relative to the garmen-t. I

The adjusting straps may as illustrated in Figure 1, be entirely free from connection with the garment except where they pass through suitable guiding loops 27 secured to the face of the garment whereby the reinforcing members may be adjusted to any degree desired without in anyway varying the adjustment of the garment.

If desired, as illustrated, the adjusting straps may cooperate with the back lacing to adjust the latter in the manner described in the patent to S. H. Camp No. 1,438,942, issued December 19, 1922. Referring to Figure 5 it will be noted that each adjusting buckle 25 is provided with eyelets 28 and that the adjacent edges of the sections 10 and 11 are provided with the eyelets 29.

movement of the garment sections. Thus a tightening of the straps will increase the pressure of the reinforcing member and will simultaneously tighten the garment to a lesser degree.

From the above, it is believed that the structure and use of the invention willbe readily apparent. The reinforcing member 15 will function to localize'the' pressure of the garment to the area of the body where the greatest support is needed. The reinforcing member may be moved relative to the garment so that the same may be located at any point desired and the pressure of the reinforcing member may be directly increased by virtue of the fact that the ad justing straps are secured directly to this member. The hinged end sections of the reinforcing member permit an even distribution of pressure by this member, whereby pressure may be evenly applied over an extended area.

While the reinforcing member has been illustrated as being loosely associated with the garment by virtue of tape-like members, it will be readily apparent that numerous other ways might be provided for loosely maintaining the reinforcing member in position. Further if desired, the reinforcing member might be sewed directly to the garment and the adjusting straps afterwards secured to the reinforcing member. Also while the reinforcing member has been shown as being applied to an abdominal support or the like, it is obvious that the same may be associated with a garment of any character whatsoever. The right is therefore reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will fall within the purview of the attached claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An abdominal support comprising a garment, a reinforcing member associated with said garment for accentuating the pressure thereof over a predetermined area, said reinforcing member being formed in sections of material stiffer than the body of said garment, said sections being movable with respect to each other, and an adjustable strap secured to one of said sections at approximately the center thereof and extending through another of said sections for directly adjusting the pressure of said reinforcing member.

2. An abdominal support comprising a garment, a relatively rigid pad associated with said garment for accentuating the pressure thereof over a predetermined area, said side sections, and oppositely extending adjusting straps secured to the center section of said pad, one of said straps passing throu h each of said hinged side sections, Where y the pressure of said pad may be directly adjusted.

3. An abdominal support comprising a body encircling garment and means associated with said garment for exerting an additional pressure on the body of the wearer over a predetermined area, said means including a, relatively stiff pad arranged between the front of the garment and the body of the wearer, said pad being adapted for floating movement relative to the garment whereby movement of the garment will not vary the position of the pad relative to the body of the wearer, and means for adjusting the pressure exerted on the body of the wearer by said pad, including straps secured to said pad at the center thereof and extending through said pad at opposite ends thereof.

4. An abdominal support comprising a body encircling garment and means associated with said garment for exerting an additional pressure on the body of the wearer over a predetermined area, said means including a relatively stiff pad arranged between the front of said garment and the body of the pad including a center section and hinged I vas wearer, said pad being adapted for floating 9 movement relative to the garment whereby movementofthe garment will not vary the position of the said pad relative to the body of the wearer, and straps connected directly to said pad at the center thereof and extending F19 tions hingedly connected to said central por- 1 1 tion, and means loose with respect to the garment for exerting a pull on the reinforcement, including straps terminally secured to the central portion and extending through slots in the wing portions.

6. An abdominal support comprising a, garment having sections and embracing the body, a relatively rigid reinforcement loose with respect to the garment, and means for adjusting the reinforcement relative to the garment to increase the pressure exerted by the reinforcement and without transmitting a pull through the garment, including a flexible element bridging the gap between the garment sections and provided at opposite ends with buckles, a strap secured to the reinforcing member at the center thereof, and extending through said member at oneend thereof, and straps secured to said buckles and extending over said sections, one of said last mentioned straps extending through the reinforcing member and being secured thereto adjacent the center thereof, the other of said last mentioned straps being detachably secured to the first mentioned strap.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

PAUL R. SIGSBEE. 

